Visual and/or Hearing Impairment

Flights between Canada and the U.S.

All other flights

Air Canada is subject to the US Department of Transportation's Rule on "Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel"
(14 CFR Part 382)
applicable to the services we offer customers with special needs who:

Are travelling on a flight between Canada and the United States; and

Have purchased a ticket with an Air-Canada operated flight through a US-based airline (the ticket will then bear the code of the US airline, e.g. United Airlines' UA 7811).

Travel Requirements

If you have both a severe hearing and a severe vision impairment, you will need to:

Safety Briefings in Alternate Format

In addition to an individual safety briefing provided by a crew member prior to flight departure, flight attendants on all aircraft will also offer Braille and large print safety cards for passengers who are blind or have a visual impairment.

Tactile Audio Selection Templates

Tactile audio selection templates are available on all other Air Canada and Jazz flights that have flight entertainment systems (except our Embraer aircraft). They are designed to assist visually impaired customers who wish to use the in-flight audio entertainment system. You may request your template on board.

Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf - Reservations

If you have a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and you are in Canada or the United States, call 1-800-361-8071 toll free.

If you are visually impaired, our cabin crew will provide you with special attention, even if you are accompanied by an attendant and/or a service animal. Our crew will:

Make periodic enquiries about your needs and attend to them

Assist in unwrapping foods and beverages, describe the food and its location on the tray

Accompany you between your seat and the lavatory

If you are visually impaired and travelling with a service animal such as a seeing-eye dog, you may be seated in International Business Class provided the animal travels under the Suite's footstool and/or seat at all times.

Travel Requirements

You must travel with an attendant if you are affected by both severe hearing and severe vision impairments that you cannot establish adequate means of communication with onboard personnel to allow for the transmission of the required safety briefing and to enable you to assist in your own evacuation of the aircraft in case of an emergency.

However if you have both a hearing and vision impairment with only residual hearing or vision and wish to travel without an attendant, advance notice and medical approval are required.

Safety Briefing in Alternate Format

In addition to an individual safety briefing provided by a crew member prior to flight departure, flight attendants on all aircraft will also offer Braille and large print safety cards for passengers who are blind or have a visual impairment.

Tactile Audio Selection Templates

Tactile audio selection templates are available on all other Air Canada and Jazz flights that have flight entertainment systems (except our Embraer aircraft). They are designed to assist visually impaired customers who wish to use the in-flight audio entertainment system. You may request your template on board.

Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf - Reservations

If you have a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf and you are in Canada or the United States, call 1-800-361-8071 toll free.